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  • Outlook for Regional Banks

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Bank credit conditions are tightening, and the negative impact on the economy from the ongoing banking crisis is going to be significant because small banks account for 30% of assets in the banking sector and 40% of lending, and small banks are facing three headwinds from 1) higher funding costs, 2) lower asset prices because of higher interest rates, and 3) more regulatory scrutiny. Our banking sector outlook is available here, key charts inserted below.

    Less than 1% of bank accounts have a balance higher than $250k
    Source: FDIC, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    40% of small firms have applied for financing in the past 12 months
    Source: Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve, Apollo Chief Economist. Note: 2022 survey, prior to 12 months of survey year
    Banks are the most important source of financing for small businesses
    Source: 2021 Annual Business Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, Apollo Chief Economist
    Purpose of seeking financing for small businesses
    Source: Small Business Credit Survey, Federal Reserve, Apollo Chief Economist. Note: 2022 survey, prior to 12 months of survey year
    The share of bank deposits paying zero interest rate is declining
    Source: FDIC, Apollo Chief Economist
    Small banks lend to small businesses
    Source: FDIC, Apollo Chief Economist. Data as of Q3 2022
    Where are the problems in CRE?
    Source: Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Small banks account for almost 70% of all commercial real estate loads outstanding
    Source: Federal Reserve Board, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    Loan growth expected to fall
    Source: NFIB, FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Outlook for 10s

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The arguments for long rates moving higher are sticky inflation, QT, debt ceiling, and Japan exiting yield curve control.

    The arguments for long rates moving lower are lagged effects of Fed hikes, the ongoing banking crisis dragging down growth, and that the Fed is done raising rates.

    Incoming information on any of these fronts will continue to keep fixed income volatility elevated.

    Arguments for long-term interest rates going up or down
    Source: Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • What Is Back to Normal After Covid?

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Our chart book looks at investable themes in a post-covid world.

    What is back to normal after covid?
    Thematic credit investing: What is back to normal after covid?

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Small Banks Lend to Small Businesses

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Small and medium-sized businesses have been underperforming in the stock market since the SVB collapse, suggesting investors are worried about the negative impact of the ongoing credit crunch on middle market companies, see chart below.

    Banking crisis having negative impact on small and medium-sized companies
    Source: Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Comparing NYC and SF

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    New York City subway use is at 70% of 2019 levels, and San Francisco is at 47%, see chart below.

    Subway ridership: NY ahead of San Francisco
    Source: BART, MTA, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Change in 3-month CD Rates, by Bank Size

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Since SVB collapsed, the interest rate on a 3-month CD has increased at small banks and declined at large banks, see chart below.

    After SVB: Change in 3-month CD rates at US banks, by size of bank
    Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, for a $10K 3-month CD, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • The unemployment rate falls when the Fed hikes rates, see chart below.

    In fact, the declining unemployment rate is precisely the reason why the Fed is raising interest rates. And the chart below suggests that when the unemployment rate starts moving higher is when the Fed stops hiking.

    Looking back in history, the median time it takes from when the Fed starts hiking until the unemployment rate bottoms and moves higher is 14 months, and using this historical pattern as a guide, with the first Fed hike in March 2022, we should begin to see the unemployment rate increase within the next couple of months.

    The bottom line is that it usually takes 12 to 18 months for the Fed to soften the labor market, and today is no different.

    The unemployment rate goes down when the Fed raises rates
    Source: BLS, FRB, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • US Housing Outlook

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    A US housing recovery has started, and this is a problem for the Fed because home prices have a weight of 40% in the CPI basket, and rising house prices will make inflation more sticky and make it more difficult for the Fed to get inflation down from currently 5% to the FOMC’s 2% inflation target. Our US housing outlook is available here.

    US Housing Outlook: Housing recovery making inflation more sticky
    Traffic of prospective homebuyers starting to improve likely driven by solid employment growth, high wage growth, and plenty of excess savings
    Source: National Association of Homebuilders, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Confidence improving for homebuyers and homebuilders
    Source: University of Michigan, NAHB, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    Home sales starting to recover
    Source: Census Bureau, NAR, Haver, Apollo Chief Economist; Forecast is Bloomberg consensus
    Average number of offers received per sold property is starting to recover
    Source: NAR, Apollo Chief Economist
    Housing affordability at 2007 levels but starting to bottom because of solid job growth, robust wage growth, and excess savings in the household sector
    Source: Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Mortgage refi applications starting to recover
    Source: Mortgage Bankers Association, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist
    Despite high prices, homebuyer sentiment improving
    Source: University of Michigan, Apollo Chief Economist
    Homebuyer sentiment about mortgage rates and credit conditions getting better
    Source: University of Michigan, Apollo Chief Economist
    Active listings still at very low levels, very low inventory
    Source: Realtor.com, Apollo Chief Economist
    Fewer people listing their home for sale in a down market
    Source: Redfin, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist
    With the housing market recovering, the anticipated strong decline in OER may never happen
    Source: Zillow, BLS, Haver Analytics, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Tighter Bank Credit Dragging Down Bank Lending

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    Small businesses are reporting it is harder to get a loan, and that normally means lower bank lending growth over the following 12 months, see chart below.

    Source: NFIB, FRB, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


  • Las Vegas Occupancy Rate Still High

    Torsten Sløk

    Apollo Chief Economist

    The occupancy rate for hotels in Las Vegas is not showing signs of weakness in consumer services, see chart below.

    Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Bloomberg, Apollo Chief Economist

    See important disclaimers at the bottom of the page.


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